India get easy SAFF Cup draw

Reigning champions India were clubbed with Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Afghanistan in an easy Group A for the 10th edition of the South-Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup that will kick-off at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on December 2.

Reigning champions India were clubbed with Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Afghanistan in an easy Group A for the 10th edition of the South-Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup that will kick-off at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on December 2.

The last time the tournament was held in India was 12 years ago, in Goa, where five-time champions India had beaten Bangladesh 2-0 with goals by Bruno Coutinho and Bhaichung Bhutia.

SAFF President Kazi Salahuddin said, "There is a need for these countries to play regularly and the SAFF Cup is the only regional championship in the world. It will help in the growth of quality of the sport in the region."

Subroto cup

The 52nd edition of the Subroto Cup will kick-off here on Friday. The U-17 girls tournament will feature a team from Afghanistan for the first time alongside nine other girls' teams.

The prize money has been increased to Rs 22 lakh and the U-14 (sub-junior) boys' tournament has 28 teams while the U-17 boys' competition will feature 31 sides from across the country.